How to get into acting…
If you think about the life of an actor, you’ll probably be imagining film premieres, red carpets, autograph signings and screaming fans. Sure, it’s true that some of the world’s acting megastars might live like that (for some of the time at least), but for the rest of the people who are aspiring to find their feet in the competitive world of acting and drama, things are likely to be a little less rock ‘n’ roll. An acting career is likely to be characterized by numerous highs and lows and most people who work in this area supplement their existence through other occupations.
If you want to know how to get into the acting career, you will need to be absolutely focused, extremely determined and completely realistic.
Most professional actors will find themselves out of work for long periods of time, often followed by short but intense periods of employment. This is likely to be the case whether you are working in television or film, in the West End or in regional theatres. You might be able to develop an acting career with more stability if you opt to take a route into teaching drama or coaching actors.
You can work across a range of media. You might be working on blockbuster movies, television programmes or independent films. Consequently, you will find differing levels of job stability and variations in pay.
Getting into an acting career requires a lot of hard work and determination. You may not be working often, but you and your agent (if you have one) will constantly be looking at lots of different roles and you may find yourself going to tons of auditions across the country.
If you are lucky enough to find work, things can be intense with long hours and little stimulation. You don’t need any specific qualifications to go far and you have the option to get involved at almost any age.
Acting in films is often seen as the peak of an actor’s career and for some people it is. The rewards and recognition can be huge, but getting here will take time, effort and a little bit of luck. You are unlikely to make your break straight into the film without any previous acting experience.
If all this talk of acting and drama has caught your attention, then stop waiting in the wings and act now!
